Physician-patient privilege
ISSUE SUMMARY
The obligations of physicians regarding privileged patient information (“protected health information”) were substantially affected as a result of the privacy regulations adopted pursuant to the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). In conjunction with the development of statewide health information exchange, the state of Kansas has enacted legislation in 2011 which “harmonizes” state privacy and security laws with HIPAA, in order to create a consistent, less confusing approach to issues around access, use, and disclosure of an individual’s protected health information.
ADOPTED ACTION OR POLICY
KMS reaffirms its responsibility to periodically inform its members of their legal responsibilities relating to the confidentiality of, access to, and release of, privileged patient information (“protected health information”) under HIPAA and applicable state privacy and security laws.
Adopted by the KMS House of Delegates on April 30, 2011.
